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Life Byron, a beautiful lame, had an unfortunate childhood. His father died when he was only three years old. He and his mother lived in loneliness and poverty for some years. His mother had a moody character. At one moment she showed her passion for the boy; at another, she hurt him by mocking at his deformity and maddened him by her furies of rage.

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The boy ’ s Fate changed suddenly when his granduncle William, 5th Baron Byron, died in 1798. He inherited the title and the Byron estate, and then he studied at Harrow, where he wrote a number of poems. He was not famous until the first two cantos of Child Harold published in 1812. In the following years, his fame as a poet rose steadily. He became an idol of the English society, and was pursued by adoring ladies. The boy ’ s Fate changed suddenly when his granduncle William, 5th Baron Byron, died in 1798. He inherited the title and the Byron estate, and then he studied at Harrow, where he wrote a number of poems. He was not famous until the first two cantos of Child Harold published in 1812. In the following years, his fame as a poet rose steadily. He became an idol of the English society, and was pursued by adoring ladies.

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Byron was a dissolute person in nature and plunged into a series of notorious love affairs, including the love with his stepsister. His marriage was quickly followed by a separation from his wife. The Londoners, after hearing his stories, considered him as “ immoral ”, rejecting him from their social circle. Slanderous tongues and rumors eventually drove Byron to foreign lands. On May 19, 1824, Byron died of rheumatic fever ( 风 湿热 ) in Greece. “ The Poet Corner ” in Westminster refused to accept him until 1969, almost 150 years after his death.

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Literary works His best-known works are the narrative poems Child Harold ’ s Pilgrimage and Don Juan ( 恰尔德 · 哈 罗尔德游记，唐 · 璜 ). The latter remained incomplete on his death. A poem spanning 17 cantos, Don Juan, ranks as one of the most important long poems published in England since Milton ’ s Paradise Lost. His best-known works are the narrative poems Child Harold ’ s Pilgrimage and Don Juan ( 恰尔德 · 哈 罗尔德游记，唐 · 璜 ). The latter remained incomplete on his death. A poem spanning 17 cantos, Don Juan, ranks as one of the most important long poems published in England since Milton ’ s Paradise Lost.

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Byron ’ s fame rests not only on his writings, but also on his life. Which featured extravagant living, numerous love affairs, debts, separation, allegations of incest and bisexuality and an eventual death from fever after he traveled to fight on the Greek side in the Greek War of Independence. He was famously described as by Lady Caroline Lamb as “ mad, bad, and dangerous to know ”. Byron ’ s fame rests not only on his writings, but also on his life. Which featured extravagant living, numerous love affairs, debts, separation, allegations of incest and bisexuality and an eventual death from fever after he traveled to fight on the Greek side in the Greek War of Independence. He was famously described as by Lady Caroline Lamb as “ mad, bad, and dangerous to know ”.

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Byronic Heroes A kind of hero found in several of the works of Lord Byron. Like Byron himself, a Byronic hero is a melancholy and rebellious young man, distressed by a terrible wrong he committed in the past. The attributes of this idealized but flawed character include:

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Being a rebel Having a distaste for a social institutions Being an exile Expressing a lack of respect for rank and privileges Having great talent Hiding an unsavory past Being highly passionate Being self-destructive

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Comment on Byron  Byron is one of the most excellent representatives of English Romanticism and one of the most influential poets of the time.  His literary career was closely linked with the struggle and progressive movements of his age.  He opposed oppression and slavery, and had an ardent (passionate) love for liberty.  He praised the people’s revolutionary struggles in his works.

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His poems are favorites of the British workers and the laboring people of other countries. His poems are favorites of the British workers and the laboring people of other countries. Byron ’ s poems show energy and vigor, romantic daring (bold, brave) and powerful passion. Byron ’ s poems show energy and vigor, romantic daring (bold, brave) and powerful passion. He stands with Shakespeare and Scott among British writers who exert the greatest influence over the mainland Europe and the Chinese youth greatly. He stands with Shakespeare and Scott among British writers who exert the greatest influence over the mainland Europe and the Chinese youth greatly. But some critics think many of his lines are harsh (unkind),rugged (rough) and not rhythmical. Some poems show his individual heroism and pessimism. But some critics think many of his lines are harsh (unkind),rugged (rough) and not rhythmical. Some poems show his individual heroism and pessimism.

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When We Two Parted When We Two Parted The poem was written in 1808 and published in1816 at the age of 20. it records an unhappy love affair. The poet ’ s beloved girl broke her vows and became a laughing stock due to her light behavior, for which the poet felt ashamed and grieved. The poem was written in 1808 and published in1816 at the age of 20. it records an unhappy love affair. The poet ’ s beloved girl broke her vows and became a laughing stock due to her light behavior, for which the poet felt ashamed and grieved.

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His sorrow from this unfaithful love can be felt between lines together with his reluctance to forget their pure love they once developed before they parted. The complicated mixed feelings of love and hatred is fully expressed in the poem. His sorrow from this unfaithful love can be felt between lines together with his reluctance to forget their pure love they once developed before they parted. The complicated mixed feelings of love and hatred is fully expressed in the poem.

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When we two parted When we two parted In silence and tears, In silence and tears, Half broken-hearted Half broken-hearted To sever for years, To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this! Sorrow to this!

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The dew of the morning The dew of the morning Sunk chill on my brow Sunk chill on my brow It felt like the warning It felt like the warning Of what I feel now. Of what I feel now. Thy vows are all broken, Thy vows are all broken, And light is thy fame: And light is thy fame: I hear thy name spoken, I hear thy name spoken, And share in its shame. And share in its shame.

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They name thee before me, They name thee before me, A knell to mine ear; A knell to mine ear; A shudder comes o ’ er me- A shudder comes o ’ er me- Why wert thou so dear? Why wert thou so dear? They know not I knew thee They know not I knew thee Who knew thee too well: Who knew thee too well: long, long shall I rue thee, long, long shall I rue thee, Too deeply to tell. Too deeply to tell.

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In secret we met In secret we met In silence I grieve, In silence I grieve, That thy heart could forget, That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive. Thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee If I should meet thee After ling year, After ling year, How should I greet thee? How should I greet thee? With silence and tears. With silence and tears.

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Background Information In June, 1814, several months before he met and married his first wife, Anna Milbanke, Lord Byron attended a party at Lady Sitwell ’ s. While at the party, Lord Byron was inspired by the sight of his cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Wilmot, who was wearing a black spangled mourning dress. Lord Byron was struck by his cousin ’ s dark hair and fair face, the mingling of various lights and shades. This became the essence of his poem about her. In June, 1814, several months before he met and married his first wife, Anna Milbanke, Lord Byron attended a party at Lady Sitwell ’ s. While at the party, Lord Byron was inspired by the sight of his cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Wilmot, who was wearing a black spangled mourning dress. Lord Byron was struck by his cousin ’ s dark hair and fair face, the mingling of various lights and shades. This became the essence of his poem about her.

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According to his friend, James W. Webster, “ I did take him to Lady Sitwell ’ s party in Seymour Road. He there for the first time saw his cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Wilmot. When we returned to his rooms in Albany, he said little, but desired Fletcher to give him a tumbler of brandy, which he drank at once to Mrs. Wilmot ’ s health, then retired to rest, and was, I heard afterwards, in a sad state all night. The next day he wrote those charming lines upon her — She walks in Beauty like the Night …” According to his friend, James W. Webster, “ I did take him to Lady Sitwell ’ s party in Seymour Road. He there for the first time saw his cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Wilmot. When we returned to his rooms in Albany, he said little, but desired Fletcher to give him a tumbler of brandy, which he drank at once to Mrs. Wilmot ’ s health, then retired to rest, and was, I heard afterwards, in a sad state all night. The next day he wrote those charming lines upon her — She walks in Beauty like the Night …”

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She walks in beauty She walks in beauty, like the night of cloudless climes, and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light which heaven to gaudy day denies. She walks in beauty, like the night of cloudless climes, and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light which heaven to gaudy day denies.

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One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express how pure, how dear their dwelling place. how pure, how dear their dwelling place.

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And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

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Summary A love poem about a beautiful woman and all of her features. Throughout the poem, Byron explains the depth of this woman ’ s beauty. Even in the darkness of death and mourning, her beauty shines through. Her innocence shows her pureness in heart and her pureness in love. The two forces involved in Byron ’ s poem are the darkness and light---at work in the woman ’ s beauty, and also the two areas of her beauty---the internal and external. A love poem about a beautiful woman and all of her features. Throughout the poem, Byron explains the depth of this woman ’ s beauty. Even in the darkness of death and mourning, her beauty shines through. Her innocence shows her pureness in heart and her pureness in love. The two forces involved in Byron ’ s poem are the darkness and light---at work in the woman ’ s beauty, and also the two areas of her beauty---the internal and external.